Photo By Lance Cpl. Brenna Ritchie | U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Kyle King, assistant fire support lead, Tactical Training and...... read more read more
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Maj. Kyle King, a Marine Corps officer with an elite marathon runner career, intertwines discipline, passion, and resilience, that he learned from both to build on his success. Serving as an assistant fire support lead with the Tactical Training and Exercise Group in Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, King has been in the Marine Corps for over a decade. Since his commissioning in November 2014, the Corps has provided him with life experiences and opportunities that he says he could not have imagined otherwise.
“What inspired me to join the Marines was the respect I had for the service,” King recalls. “They were perceived as the toughest.”
But King’s journey to becoming a Marine also revitalized another aspect of his life: his love for running. Growing up in Washington state, King started running track in middle school. He won five state championships in high school and earned a scholarship to Eastern Washington University. Yet, as his success grew, running began to feel like a chore. Joining the Marine Corps shifted his perspective.
“Running became a passion again, rather than just a career,” King explains. “I joined the Corps without any intention of running competitively, but I discovered the All-Marines Running Team and the opportunities to represent the Corps in races against the Royal Marines and the Marine Corps Marathon.”
After initially focusing on his role as a Marine, King eventually transferred to a reserve unit, enabling him to dedicate more time to running. Determined to make his mark, he set his sights on the Marine Corps Marathon, a race he long admired.
“A Marine hadn’t won the MCM since the early 2000s,” King notes. “I began training with the intention of winning. As I trained, I became competitive enough to qualify for the Olympic Trials and the Military World Games, where I ran in Wuhan, China, representing the United States.”
He placed 47th in the 2020 Olympic Trials and has completed marathons worldwide, including Eugene, Vancouver, and Fort Worth. Notably, he won the Marine Corps Marathon in 2022 and 2024.
Reflecting on this year’s race, King shares, “I felt cramps at mile eight and wondered how I could finish another 18 miles. But I broke the distance down, asking myself, ‘Can I do one more mile?’ The answer was yes each time, and eventually, the cramps went away. That mindset is what keeps me successful.”
He uses simple mantras to stay focused, such as “Can I do one more mile?” and “How long do I need to be tough?” These phrases help him endure the grueling 26.2 miles of a marathon. King emphasizes that the Marine Corps mindset has been instrumental in shaping his approach to running.
“The Marine Corps teaches you mental toughness,” he says. “When you’re in the field for days, running doesn’t seem like the hardest part of your day. That perspective changes how you approach races.”
Balancing his military career with marathon training requires strict discipline. King’s daily routine starts early, running while beating the desert heat, followed by work, another run, recovery, and preparation for the next day.
“It’s a strict regimen, but I feel happiest with the disciplined cycle,” he says. “I’m living with intense purpose.”
A key factor in King’s continued success is the camaraderie he’s found on the All-Marines Running Team. The team consists of Marines stationed worldwide, and it comes together for significant events like the Marine Corps Marathon and international competitions against the Royal Marines.
“What keeps me in the sport is the team dynamic,” King says. “We don’t train together often because of where we’re stationed, but when big events come around, it’s great to race as a team.”
King also mentors Marines on the running team, sharing his experiences and encouraging them to stay competitive. His advice? “Write down your goals, be specific with time management, and fully commit to what you’re trying to achieve.”
“King has had an incredible running career,” said Capt. Alexandria Elliott, a student at the Naval Postgraduate School. “Being his teammate on the All-Marines Running Team means I can cheer him on while also gathering his tips and tricks for my own training. He’s one of my mentors, and he has a lot of great insight.”
This week, King attended the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association convention, where he presented the National High School and College Coach of the Year awards and led a seminar titled “Fit to Win.” He also participated in a 5-kilometer run hosted by the Marines with the coaches in attendance, fostering connections between the Marine Corps and the broader running community.
“This event allowed us to network and share opportunities the Marine Corps offers to athletes and coaches,” King says. “Running is an opportunity to challenge yourself and many athletes share mindsets similar to Marines.”
For student-athletes looking to continue competing after graduation, King has an inspiring message: “The Marine Corps can seem intimidating, but when you rise to the occasion, you’ll see things you never thought possible and learn things about yourself you never knew. It’s an opportunity to keep a foot in the competitive door and be part of a team.”
As he prepares for the 2025 Marine Corps Marathon, which also serves as the Military World Championships, King hopes to sustain a sub-2:20 marathon pace and continue inspiring others to push their limits. With a career defined by discipline, resilience, and community, Major Kyle King exemplifies what it means to lead by example on and off the racecourse.
| Date Taken: | 12.19.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 12.20.2024 08:14 |
| Story ID: | 488028 |
| Location: | ORLANDO, FLORIDA, US |
| Hometown: | COUPEVILLE, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 62 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, From Track Star to Marine Corps Marathon Champion: The Story of Maj. Kyle King, by LCpl Brenna Ritchie, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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